Michigan lawmakers voted Wednesday to prohibit local taxes on food, drinks and gum in a pre-emptive strike against any municipality that might consider levying a tax on soda and other sugary and artificially sweetened items.

Governor Rick Snyder says he plans to meet with black state lawmakers to hear their concerns following a controversial Facebook post by the leader of the Michigan State Police. We have more from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta.

Ten state House Democrats linked arms Thursday during the Pledge of Allegiance in lieu of putting their hands over their hearts. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta, they say it was to show solidarity with NFL players and to protest a controversial Facebook post by the leader of the Michigan State Police.

A plan to grant amnesty to people who owe sometimes thousands of dollars in unpaid driver responsibility fees is in the works. As Michigan Public Radio’s Rick Pluta reports, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers rolled out the proposal today.

Michigan would forgive more than $600 million in extra "responsibility" fees that have been assessed on 317,000 motorists for certain traffic offenses under new legislation that is designed to help them regain their licenses and stop driving illegally.